Child Poverty

Vera Baird: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps his Department is taking to achieve the Government's targets of ending child poverty by 2020, and halving it by 2010; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Government set out the steps that Departments across Government are taking to achieve the targets of ending child poverty by 2020 and halving it by 2010 in the Child Poverty Review, published alongside the 2004 Spending Review and available at http://www.hmtreasury.gov.uk/spending review/spend sr04/associated documents/spending sr04 childpover ty.cfm

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister whether he sought advice on what standard he should apply in determining on 14 March 2003 that Iraq was in material breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1441.

Tony Blair: As Lord Butler noted in his report, in coming to the view that Iraq was in further material breach under Operative paragraph 4 of UNSCR 1441:
	"the Prime Minister took account both of the overall intelligence picture and of information from a wide range of other sources, including especially UNMOVIC information." (paragraph 385, HC 898)
	I also refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Leigh) during my evidence to the Liaison Committee on 8 February 2005.

Freedom of Information

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the (a) documents and (b) other written material he has released to date in response to Freedom of Information requests; and what categories of information requested his Office has refused to release.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. Requests for information are considered on a case by case basis in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. There are no categories of information which the Cabinet Office has refused to release.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 21 February 2005, Official Report, column 37W, by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Miliband) to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis).

Fairtrade

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to promote fairtrade awareness.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The UK Government has been a major supporter of Fairtrade. Fairtrade sales in the UK are growing each year, reaching £140 million in 2004. By buying Fairtrade products such as coffee, tea, fruit and chocolate shoppers are helping farmers and other producers to earn a decent living and obtain good healthcare and education. Between 2002 and 2005 DFID gave £300,000 to the Fairtrade Foundation to help develop its product range. DFID have just announced a further £750,000 over three years. DFID also gives £164,000 to the Foundation through its Development Awareness programme to raise awareness in the UK of Fairtrade.

Afghanistan

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has funded (a) alternative employment for workers in the poppy industry and (b) the purchase of poppy crops in Afghanistan since 1997.

Hilary Benn: As a counterbalance to the elimination of the illicit opium economy in Afghanistan, opportunities to pursue alternative licit livelihoods for existing and potential poppy growers must be developed. DFID works through the National Priority Programmes of the Afghan Government and with a range of NGOs to provide both agricultural and non-agricultural inputs and technical support to give farmers alternative livelihood opportunities in poor rural areas.
	DFID funds targeted alternative livelihood programmes in Badakhshan and Eastern Hazarajat. In Badakhshan, DFID is also funding a "Cash for Work" programme in order to generate increased minimum wage employment through labour-intensive public works. This is designed to provide up to 500,000 person days of employment for those previously generating income from growing poppy. We are in discussion with the Government of Afghanistan and others to identify opportunities to provide similar support in other key poppy growing provinces.
	DFID has not, as part of its programme, purchased any poppy crops in Afghanistan.

Guyana

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a further statement on UK assistance to Guyana following the floods on 26 December 2004, with specific regard to (a) food relief, (b) replacing accommodation and (c) restarting public services.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: holding answer 8 March 2005
	As reported in my statement of 10 February 2005, DFID has provided £287,000 to the immediate flood response in Guyana. Since that statement we have provided an additional £30,000 in materials. Through the UK's contribution to the European Commission (EC), we have provided £185,000 out of the €1.7 million provided by the EC as immediate relief.
	The UK has tried to ensure that our support goes to areas not otherwise covered by other members of the international community. The World Food Programme and the Red Cross met immediate food needs, and were funded by others from the international community.
	The UN, through the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), is currently undertaking an assessment of the impact of the floods on Guyana's economy and on people's livelihoods. These assessments have been tried and tested in many regional disasters. The assessment will indicate longer term food security needs, as well as reconstruction needs. To date there has not been an identified need to replace accommodation. The priority has been to clean flood affected accommodation, as well as schools and health centres, to make all such places useable again. The Government's cleaning programme is being supported by the UN.
	Some schools are still unable to operate as normal. Those affected were used as shelters for displaced people, and they are currently waiting to be reached by the Government cleaning programme. Of the public utilities only the provision of piped water was affected. Pumping stations and distribution networks were severely affected in many areas. This service is now getting back to normal. The management improvements at "Guyana Water Incorporated" provided through the water reform programme ensured an effective response to the flood situation. This programme was funded by DFID and others to improve the supply of potable water. There are sufficient resources in place, and sufficient capacity, to undertake the necessary ongoing repairs. Oxfam have been working very closely with the water utility to ensure the supply of potable water during and after the crisis.
	The Guyanese Drainage and Irrigation Board, supported by UN sourced experts, have identified a set of emergency works to be undertaken on the water management system damaged by the floods. This work is urgent as there are fears that this system was compromised by the floods, and might fail in the main May/June rains. DFID are now in the process of finalising assistance to support implementation of these emergency restoration works. In conjunction with United Nations Development Programme we are funding the cost of a Dutch expert to assist the Government of Guyana in overseeing the emergency rehabilitation of the water management system.

Overseas Aid

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he takes to ensure that all aid from the UK, including that distributed via multilateral donors, is fully aligned with the priorities of recipient countries.

Hilary Benn: International commitments made at Monterrey (2002), Rome (2003) and the recent High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Paris require both bilateral and multilateral donors to use their assistance in support of countries' own priorities. DFID's country programmes are governed by Country Assistance Plans, which are agreed with partners and demonstrate how DFID will support their own poverty reduction plans. On 2 March, I published a new policy paper "Partnerships for Poverty Reduction: Rethinking Conditionality", which emphasises our commitment to partner country leadership in setting their developing policies, and states that we will not seek to influence policy choices by use of aid conditions. DFID works closely with multilateral agencies, at both headquarters and country level, to ensure their procedures and practice promote alignment.

Public Spending

Liam Byrne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) the gross domestic product (GDP), (b) his estimate of the output gap, (c) total public spending, (d) public spending per capita and (e) public spending as a proportion of regional GDP were for each English region, in each of the last five years.

Paul Boateng: The information is as follows:
	(a) Gross value added (GVA), a measure closely related to GDP (which is not available on a regional basis), for each English region for the calendar years 1999 to 2003 is published on the ONS website (www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme economy/regionalGVA.pdf).
	(b) The output gap is currently only available on a national basis so regional figures do not exist.
	(c) Total public spending by region that can be identified as benefiting a particular region for 1998–99 to 2002–03 is published in table 8.1 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) 2004 (Cm6201). Public spending can be split into that which can be identified as benefiting a particular region and that which is for the benefit of the UK as a whole, for example defence spending. Therefore, the figures in PESA 2004 do not represent total England public spending, which is not available by region.
	(d) Total identifiable public spending by region, for the same years, on a per capita basis is shown in table 8.2 of PESA 2004 (Cm6201).
	(e) Public spending as a proportion of GVA (GDP) is not available as GVA is produced on a calendar year basis whereas identifiable public spending is produced according to financial years.

Tax Credits (Overpayment)

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to which Department of the Inland Revenue hon. Members should write in respect of representations relating to the desirability of remitting overpayments of tax credit caused by incorrect award notices.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 8 March 2005
	For constituents in Great Britain, hon. Members should write to the Overpayments Team, Tax Credit Office, Preston, PR1 OSB. For constituents in Northern Ireland, hon. Members should write to the Overpayments Team, Tax Credit Office, Dorchester House, 52–58 Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7WF.
	The Inland Revenue's approach to tax credits overpayments is explained in their Code of Practice 26, "What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?". The Department also provides form TC846, "Request to reconsider recovery of tax credits", which claimants can use to explain why they think they should not be expected to pay back their overpayment. Both the Code of Practice and the form are available on the Department's website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk.

EU Subsidies

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the level of common agricultural policy production subsidies in the EU, including those retained under the national envelope system; and what assessment she has made of the impact that they have on the agricultural markets of developing nations.

Alun Michael: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development produce an estimate of the level of subsidy provided to agricultural producers in OECD countries, the Producer Support Estimate (PSE). The latest estimate, in "Agricultural Policies in OECD Countries: At a Glance, 2004", puts the EU's PSE at €108 billion or approximately 37 per cent. of output. This estimate covers all direct payments to producers under the common agricultural policy (and national schemes) including those under agri-environment measures. It also covers gross transfers to producers as a result of market price support.
	Defra has not made an assessment of the impact of the CAP on developing countries' agricultural markets. However there are a number of published studies which consider the effects of developed countries' agricultural policy on developing countries. One such estimate is presented in the World Bank report "Global Economic Prospects and the Developing Countries, 2002". This puts the annual benefits to developing countries (in 2015) from liberalisation of agriculture and food policies in high income countries at $99 billion (when dynamic productivity gains are included). It is important to note that developing countries are not all affected in the same way: for example the effect depends on whether the country is a net exporter or net importer of highly protected agricultural products. In addition, the magnitude of an estimate will depend, in part, on the modelling methodology used to generate it.

Greenhouse Gases

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action is being taken to limit the increase of greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Elliot Morley: The Government set out its policy on reducing emissions of the six greenhouse gases covered under the Kyoto Protocol in its publication "Climate Change: The UK Programme" (CM 4913) in 2000. This publication contains a set of flexible measures covering a range of different sectors—including transport, agriculture, business and households.
	Details of the reductions in greenhouse gas levels achieved so far, the main measures already in place and future options under consideration to achieve further reductions in greenhouse gas levels are contained in the 2004 "Review of the UK Climate Change Programme Consultation Paper" (PB 10372). A revised Climate Change Programme will be published later this year.

Sewerage

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) water companies and (b) Water UK on the potential for greater use being made of reed beds to try to overcome sewerage problems; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Defra supports the appropriate use of sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) such as reed beds, but recognises that, at present, barriers to the implementation, adoption and maintenance of SUDS exist. In order to address these problems, Defra is a member of the "The National SUDS Working Group" (NSWG), of which representatives of water companies and Water UK are also members. Regular meetings of this group are held facilitating discussion between all parties interested in the implementation of SUDS. In July 2004 the NSWG published an Interim Code of Practice (ICOP) for SUDS. The aim of the ICOP is to provide a strategic approach to the allocation of responsibilities for the maintenance of sustainable drainage systems.
	The new strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management that Defra has just finished consulting on, looks at ways of better coordinating the various responsibilities for urban drainage, including SUDS. A technical annex to this consultation explores in more depth, the specific options and proposals that have been made to government by stakeholders (such as water companies and Water UK) to encourage and facilitate implementation of more sustainable surface water drainage systems in the future.
	Further information can be found at:
	http://www.ciria.org/suds/icop.htm
	www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/strategy.htm
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/strategy/suds.htm

Waste Incineration Directive

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what installation and plant will be (a) exempted and (b) derogated from the requirements of the waste incineration directive regulations; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Articles 3(4) and 3(5) of the waste incineration directive provide definition respectively of the "incineration plant" and "co-incineration plant" covered by that directive. However, Article 2(2) of that directive excludes from the directive's scope (i) plants treating only certain wastes listed there, and (ii) experimental plants.
	Article 6(4) of the directive enables competent authorities to set, for plant subject to the directive's requirements, operating conditions different to those set out in Articles 6(1), 6(2) and 6(3) provided the directive's requirements are met. These provisions are relatively complex, but are explained in draft Guidance on Directive 2000/76/EC on the Incineration of Waste prepared by the Department and the Welsh Assembly Government and available on the Defra website. This publication also incorporates the text of the directive itself.

Olympic Games

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the total cost of (a) promoting and (b) hosting the 2012 Olympics in London.

Tessa Jowell: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) The bid company London 2012 is responsible for the majority of the promotional work for the Bid. The budget for Marketing and Communications within London 2012's budget is £7.45 million. The Government and the London Development Agency also jointly fund and manage a budget of £10 million to finance activities that support the Bid.
	(b) The cost of hosting the 2012 Olympics is £1.5 billion, which covers the operational and organisational costs of staging the Games for the period from 2005 until 2014. This will be met almost entirely from broadcast rights, sponsorship and ticket sales.
	The costs were reported to Parliament in the usual way, and were reported in the Culture, Media and Sport report "A London Olympic Bid for 2012", which was published on 23 January 2003.

UK Sport

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many candidates applied for the post of Chair of UK Sport; how many were interviewed; and what criteria were used to select the appointee.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 7 March 2005
	47 applications were received for the post of Chair of UK Sport and 10 candidates were interviewed. The selection panel assessed candidates against the criteria given in the role specification, which stated:
	"UK Sport is looking for someone with a passion for success at high performance sport, who can establish a position of leadership in the search for that success at national level;"
	and that the successful candidate would:
	Have experience of business, financial and resource management.
	Be able to win the respect of, negotiate with, and influence senior members of the Government and other key external stakeholders.
	Have a proven track record of building and growing partnerships together with partnership working at the highest level.
	Be able to promote the organisation and possess highly developed communication and representational skills and be skilled at chairing meetings.
	Have strong interpersonal relations skills and be able to demonstrate a track record of leading and motivating people and building effective teams.
	Be able to demonstrate strategic thinking, creativity and political awareness.

Forces Recruitment (Scotland)

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many domiciled Scots have joined the (a) Army, (b) RAF and (c) Royal Navy in each of the last 10 years.

Ivor Caplin: Data on the number of "domiciled" Scots for the three Services are not available centrally.

RAF

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the male to female ratio is in the Royal Air Force.

Ivor Caplin: At 1 January 2005, the ratio of male to female personnel was 7.3:1, as 12 per cent. of the total strength was female.
	Figures on strength by gender are published monthly in Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 1 "Strength, Intake and Outflow of UK Regular Forces".

RAF Menwith Hill

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the policing arrangements are at RAF Menwith Hill; how many people have been arrested there; and what discussions the local police have had with demonstrators on peaceful protest.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) exercise full constabulary powers, in an armed and unarmed capacity, at RAF Menwith Hill. MDP also contribute to the effective safety and security of the station, its residents, employees, and passing members of the public, by carrying out external patrols and joint Counter Terrorist Unit armed patrols with North Yorkshire police, to prevent unauthorised entry and interference with the station and its mission, reducing the potential for unlawful activity.
	In the last three years, (March to February) the MDP have made the following arrests:
	2002–03 10 arrests involving 7 people
	2003–04 3 arrests involving 2 people
	2004–05 29 arrests involving 5 people
	Larger organised demonstrations involve communication between the police, the demonstration organisers and other interested parties in the community; with North Yorkshire police taking the lead outside the establishment. Close liaison with the organisers is maintained and meetings based on intelligence led strategies are held to ensure effective co-operation and enable peaceful protest.
	MDP liaise with the organisers of the smaller more regular demonstrations, when those demonstrations take place. A supervisory officer in charge of the police officers present at the demonstration, conducts a briefing to protesters, detailing the intentions of the police to allow a lawful and safe demonstration, while ensuring that others in the area are permitted to go about their lawful activities without interference. The briefing also advises that where unlawful activity takes place appropriate police action will be taken. Any concerns raised by the protesters are, wherever possible examined and resolved.

Attorney-General (Iraq)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether Lord Irvine was involved in (a) framing, (b) drafting and (c) drawing up the parliamentary answer given by the Attorney-General on 17 March 2003 on Iraq.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Solicitor-General, to the hon. Gentleman for Stone (Mr. Cash), on 1 March 2005, Official Report, column 1074W.

Ofsted

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills by what processes Ofsted interprets and utilises performance data for the purposes of inspection judgments; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: That is a matter for Ofsted. HM inspector, David Bell will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of his letter in the Library.

Asylum Seekers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many removal notices for failed asylum seekers have been issued in each year since 1997.

Des Browne: Information on the number of removal notices issued to failed asylum seekers is not available.
	Information on the number of principal asylum applicants against whom enforcement action was initiated in each year for which data are available is shown in the table.
	
		Principal asylum applicants against whom enforcement action was initiated—1997 to 20041, 2
		
			  Principal asylum applicants 
		
		
			 1997 13,760 
			 1998 14,730 
			 1999 — 
			 2000 43,465 
			 2001 67,150 
			 2002 46,200 
			 2003(8) — 
			 2004(9) — 
		
	
	(6) Figures rounded to the nearest 5.
	(7) Illegal entrants detected and persons issued with a notice of intention to deport, recommended for deportation by a court or proceeded against under Section 10.
	(8) Data were not of sufficient quality for publication in 2003, however it is estimated that 18,130 principal asylum applicants had enforcement action initiated against them in this year. Due to poor data quality this is not an official statistic.
	(9) Data for 2004 are not yet available. These will be published in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Control of Immigration Statistics: United Kingdom, 2004" in summer 2005.
	Statistics on the number of asylum applicants removed from the UK are available from the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Custody Officers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the Runciman Royal Commission on Criminal Justice in relation to custody officers; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Final Government Response published in June 1996, to the Report of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice, accepted recommendations 43–52 of the Report that dealt with, among other things, the role of the custody officer and the use of civilians under the control of the custody officer.
	The Report recommended that latter should be explored further as the opportunity offers. That opportunity has been taken through the Workforce Modernisation Programme introduced following enactment of the Police Reform Act 2002. The Thematic Report on Workforce Modernisation published in July 2004 by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary recognised the benefits forces were achieving in this area. The Report proposed that police staff could perform the role of custody officer provided appropriate training and co-ordination was in place. That is why we are looking to carry out a pilot programme in a number of force areas for staff custody officers. This will look at processes around selection, training and practical application at the police station.

Deportations

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were deported from the UK in 2004.

Des Browne: Information on the number of people who were deported from the UK is published on an annual basis in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin, "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom".
	64,390 persons were removed from the UK in 2003. This includes people who departed voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated, and those who departed under Assisted Voluntary Return programmes run by the International Organization for Migration. Provisional management information estimates that 480 of these people were removed as a result of deportation action.
	Information on the total number of persons removed (and of those how many were deported) in 2004 will be published in the 2004 edition of this publication. This will be available in August from the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Illegal Immigrants (Albanians)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Albanian Government on illegal immigrants from that country who have entered the United Kingdom in each of the last three years.

Des Browne: Illegal immigration has been discussed at meetings between Home Office and Albanian Ministers on several occasions over the last three years.
	My hon. Friend, the member for Don Valley, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Home Office (Caroline Flint) met the Minister of Public Order, Igli Toska, in May 2004 to discuss organised immigration crime including human trafficking, and the Minster of Foreign Affairs Kastriot Islami in February 2004.

Irish Republic (Extraditions)

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many extradition requests from the United Kingdom Government to the Government of the Irish Republic have resulted in the extradition of the person or persons concerned in the last 10 years for which records are available; what representations have been made to the Government of the Irish Republic in respect of non-executed requests; and if he will list those requests not yet executed.

Caroline Flint: Prior to 1 January 2004, extradition between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland was carried out under a backing of warrants system. This was carried out on a police-to-police basis, under the close supervision and assistance of the Crown Prosecution Service with, in cases where the person was an accused rather than a convicted person, the involvement of the UK and Irish Law Officers. The Home Office had minimal involvement in the process and statistics were not kept centrally.
	From 1 January 2004, the extradition process between the UK and Ireland has taken place under the Framework Decision on the European Arrest Warrant (EAW). So far, no one has been returned to the UK from Ireland under this process.
	Her Majesty's Government will not list unexecuted requests, as for good and obvious reasons, we cannot confirm or deny the existence of any arrest warrant before an arrest is made. It follows therefore that information on representations, if any, also cannot be disclosed.
	A similar question was answered on 28 June 2000, Official Report, columns 495–96W, and can be found as follows for ease of reference:
	Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons sought by the (a) RUC and (b) other UK police forces were extradited from the Irish Republic to the UK in (i) each of the previous three years and (ii) the current year. (125543)
	Mr. Mandelson: The table provides details of the numbers of persons sought by the RUC and other UK police forces who have been extradited from the Irish Republic to the UK in the last three years and current year. The figures include both terrorist and non-terrorist cases. It should be noted that the figures for England and Wales are not necessarily complete, as the information is not collated centrally.
	Given the complex nature of extradition proceedings, it is not possible to compare directly the number of extradition requests with the number of individuals extradited in any given year. With appeal proceedings the process may take a number of years to be completed.
	
		
			  Applications made Extradited 
		
		
			 Great Britain   
			 1997 22 10 
			 1998 29 16 
			 1999 17 11 
			 2000 4 1 
			
			 Northern Ireland   
			 1997 8 3 
			 1998 6 6 
			 1999 6 3 
			 2000 1 1 
		
	
	At the time the CPS manually reviewed their records to answer the question. The CPS no longer has the resources to review their records between June 2000 and December 2003.

National Probation Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget change for the National Probation Service will be for 2005–06, broken down by area.

Paul Goggins: The percentage increases for the 42 local probation boards are shown in the following table. In addition, the Home Office has provided £13 million, equivalent to 2.3 per cent., to fund the increase in the cost of the Probation Estate in 2005–06. The Home Office has also set aside a reserve fund of up to £25 million, equivalent to 4.5 per cent., to fund the increase in local employer pension contribution rates following the tri-ennial actuarial review of pension funds.
	
		Local probation boards—Increase in main resource grant
		
			  Percentage increase in main resource grant 
		
		
			 South West 10.2 
			 Avon and Somerset 7.7 
			 Devon and Cornwall 12.3 
			 Dorset 7.8 
			 Gloucestershire 7.8 
			 Wiltshire 16.0 
			   
			 Eastern 11.6 
			 Bedfordshire 12.5 
			 Cambridgeshire 16.5 
			 Essex 7.7 
			 Hertfordshire 10.8 
			 Norfolk 15.2 
			 Suffolk 11.2 
			   
			 North West 9.6 
			 Cheshire 7.8 
			 Cumbria 12.3 
			 Lancashire 8.2 
			 Greater Manchester 9.9 
			 Merseyside 10.6 
			   
			 East Midlands 12.6 
			 Derbyshire 12.0 
			 Leicestershire 14.2 
			 Lincolnshire 12.4 
			 Northamptonshire 12.9 
			 Nottinghamshire 11.8 
			 North East 10.6 
			 Durham 10.8 
			 Teesside 12.5 
			 Northumbria 9.7 
			   
			 South East 9.5 
			 Hampshire 12.2 
			 Kent 7.8 
			 Surrey 7.8 
			 Sussex 11.0 
			 Thames Valley 8.0 
			   
			 Yorkshire and Humber 9.0 
			 Humberside 11.6 
			 North Yorkshire 11.8 
			 South Yorkshire 8.3 
			 West Yorkshire 7.7 
			   
			 West Midlands 13.4 
			 Staffordshire 11.9 
			 Warwickshire 11.4 
			 West Mercia 12.0 
			 West Midlands 14.5 
			   
			 London 11.1 
			   
			 Wales 11.3 
			 Dyfed-Powys 15.8 
			 Gwent 13.6 
			 North Wales 11.0 
			 South Wales 8.8 
			   
			 Total 10.8

Police Custody

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve training of police officers to enable them to deal more effectively with mentally ill people.

Hazel Blears: Justice and Offenders Service, Health, Education and Development (JOSHED) was established in December 2003 to develop cross-agency National Occupational Standards and accredited training on health awareness issues, including mental health awareness. A scoping study was commissioned by the group in January 2004 to identify common training needs across the criminal justice and correctional services agencies, including the police. It identified and made recommendations for the improvement of training which are under consideration by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
	The "Strategy for Improving Performance in Race and Diversity 2004–09" aims to improve police performance in race and diversity, including dealing more effectively with mentally ill people. As part of the Strategy, which was launched in November 2004 and developed jointly between the Home Office, ACPO and the Association of Police Authorities (APA), learning materials about the interaction between police officers and mentally ill people are being prepared for police officers and staff. ACPO is also undertaking a review of the National Learning Requirement for mental health awareness training in the light of a report on 'Mental Health and Social Exclusion' published by the Social Exclusion Unit in June 2004.

Council Tax

David Lidington: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what Band D council tax equivalent figure his Department uses in respect of each new property in (a) Aylesbury Vale district, (b) Chiltern district, (c) Wycombe district and (d) Milton Keynes unitary authority to be set against the formula spending share when calculating grant distribution; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The figures are £181.93 for Aylesbury Vale district council, Chiltern district council, and Wycombe district council: and £967.38 for Milton Keynes unitary authority. The figures are different because Aylesbury Vale district, Chiltern district and Wycombe district councils only provide district-level services whereas Milton Keynes unitary authority provides both district- and county-level services.

Disabled Facilities Grant

David Lidington: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much (a) was made available in 2004–05 and (b) will be made available in 2005–06 to (i) local authorities in south-east England, (ii) Aylesbury Vale district council, (iii) Chiltern district council, (iv) Wycombe district council and (v) Milton Keynes unitary authority through disabled facilities grant.

Yvette Cooper: The Government pay a specified capital grant to local authorities each year which covers 60 per cent. of total local authority expenditure on disabled facilities grants (DFG). This is subject to an annual allocation limit for each authority announced prior to the beginning of the relevant financial year.
	The allocation of Government grant for DFG for years 2004–05 and 2005–06 to (i) local authorities in south-east England, (ii) Aylesbury Vale district council, (iii) Chiltern district council, (iv) Wycombe district council and (v) Milton Keynes unitary authority are tabled as follows:
	
		
			   £000 
			 Region/authority 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Total for the south-east 17,211 17,070 
			 Aylesbury Vale district council 286 286 
			 Chiltern district council 135 132 
			 Wycombe district council 270 270 
			 Milton Keynes unitary authority 300 300

Homelessness

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of the population of Leicester were homeless in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Information about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly and is in respect of households rather than people. The number of households accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need and the number of households in temporary accommodation arranged by local authorities under homelessness legislation as at 31 March of each year in Leicester, since 1997, is tabled. Also shown is the number of acceptances and in temporary accommodation as a percentage of all households in Leicester.
	After being accepted as homeless, a household will be placed in some form of accommodation. They may be placed in temporary accommodation, until a settled solution becomes available, or they may be given a settled solution straight away depending on the accommodation available to the local authority. As an alternative to temporary accommodation an authority may arrange for a household to remain in their current accommodation (homeless at home), until a settled solution becomes available.
	
		Leicester unitary council
		
			   Acceptances1, 2 Households in temporary accommodation2, 3 (as at 31 March) Rough sleepers(18) 
			  Mid-year household estimates(19) (thousand) Total As a percentage of all households Total As a percentage of all households Total (number of persons) 
		
		
			 1997 114 (20)266 0.2 (21)— (21)— 20 
			 1998 114 (20)551 0.5 380 0.3 9 
			 1999 114 669 0.6 (21)— (21)— 10 
			 2000 114 680 0.6 8 0 7 
			 2001 112 901 0.8 240 0.2 5 
			 2002 113 1,090 1 (21)— (21)— 6 
			 2003 114 684 0.6 76 0.1 3 
		
	
	(15) Households eligible under homelessness legislation and found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category. Figures provided are for the financial year (i.e. April to March).
	(16) The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister PIE homelessness returns (quarterly).
	(17) Households in accommodation either pending a decision on their homelessness application or awaiting re-allocation of a settled home following acceptance. Excludes those households designated as "homeless at home" that have remained in their existing accommodation and have the same rights to suitable alternative accommodation as those in accommodation arranged by the authority.
	(18) The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (annual).
	(19) Estimated as at 30 of June each year. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	(20) Data received for three quarters only. Annual figure includes ODPM estimates for the missing quarter.
	(21) Indicates that data were not reported by Leicester on the PIE return.
	Information is also collected, since 1998, on the number of people who sleep rough, that is, those who are literally roofless on a single night. The above table shows number of persons sleeping rough in Leicester district, on a single night.
	Quarterly Statistical Releases on statutory homelessness published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister include information on decisions, and households in temporary accommodation, at local authority level in an associated Supplementary Table. The latest Release of, 13 December, and previous editions are available both in the Library of the House and via the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website.

Local Government Finance/Services

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what research his Department (a) has (i) conducted and (ii) commissioned and (b) plans to commission into the costs of providing services in rural areas;
	(2)  what assessment he (a) has made and (b) plans to make of the impact of population dispersal in a local authority area on the cost of providing local government services; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment he (a) has made and (b) plans to make of the impact of settlement patterns in a local authority area on the cost of providing local government services; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what plans his Department has for improving the funding of public services in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: I announced on 2 February 2005, Official Report, column 912, that the Local Government Finance formula freeze had come to an end, and that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister would aim to introduce revised funding formulae in 2006–07. In general in 2006–07, our priority is to review and replace funding formula which no longer reflect the pattern of service provision on the ground, or which are calculated using very out of date data.
	Several funding formulae currently contain a sparsity top-up which is calculated using information from the 1991 Census. This top-up recognises the higher costs of service delivery that are likely to occur in sparsely populated areas.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not currently planning to undertake any research into the extra costs of providing services in rural areas. However as part of the current formula review the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will re-assess how best to take account of sparsity in these funding formulae. This work will need to consider which data best reflects differences in the cost of providing services in rural areas, be it data on population density, settlement patterns or population dispersal.

Child Poverty

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to achieve the Government's targets of (a) ending child poverty by 2020 and (b) halving it by 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 2 March 2005
	Making work pay and supporting parents in balancing their work and family responsibilities helps enable parents to participate in the labour market, which in turn is critical to tackling child poverty.
	Since October 2004, the minimum wage (adult rate), in conjunction with the working families tax credit and other benefits have provided a guaranteed minimum income of at least £252 a week for families with one child and one earner in full-time work (35 hours per week). On 25 February we announced that the minimum wage will be increased to £5.05 from October 2005.
	In 2003 we introduced a new right for parents to request a flexible working pattern. In the first year 800,000 requests were either wholly or partly accepted. In addition to this new entitlement, we extended maternity leave so most mothers can choose to take up to one year. We also introduced new rights to two weeks' paid paternity leave and introduced paid adoption leave.
	On 28 February my Department published a consultation document, "Work and Families: Choice and Flexibility". Through the consultation we are seeking views on the details of commitments and proposals set out in the 2004 pre-Budget report which build on the our successful package of family friendly working rights. These include extending Statutory Maternity Pay, Maternity Allowance and Statutory Adoption Pay to nine months from April 2007 towards a goal of a year's paid leave by the end of the next Parliament, introducing a right for mothers to transfer a proportion of their maternity leave and pay to fathers, and looking at options for extending the right to request flexible working to carers of adults and to parents of older children. These measures would give families more choice about how to balance their work and caring responsibilities, supporting parents who may otherwise have been forced to drop out of the labour market to stay in work.
	Copies of the consultation document have been placed in the Libraries of the House and are available on the DTI website at www.dti.gov.uk/workandfamilies.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to ensure that successful competitions have been completed for the management of at least 50 per cent. of UK nuclear sites by the end of 2008 will be met;
	(2)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to demonstrate progress by 2006 on raising the rate of UK productivity growth over the economic cycle;
	(3)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to promote ethnic diversity in the workplace;
	(4)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to narrow the productivity gap with the US, France and Germany;
	(5)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to improve the UK's competitiveness;
	(6)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to promote co-operative employment relations;
	(7)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to establish a safe, innovative and dynamic market for nuclear clean-up;
	(8)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to deliver annual 2 per cent. efficiency gains in nuclear clean up from 2006–07 will be met;
	(9)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to promote greater choice and commitment in the workplace;
	(10)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to reduce the civil nuclear liability by 10 per cent. by 2010 will be met;
	(11)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to improve the international performance of the UK's science and engineering base;
	(12)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to maintain energy security;
	(13)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to ensure that the UK ranks in the top three most competitive energy markets in the EU and G7 in each year will be met in 2005;
	(14)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to bring the UK levels of consumer protection up to the level of the best by 2006 will be met;
	(15)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to achieve fuel poverty objectives;
	(16)  whether the Public Service Agreement target to ensure that the UK ranks in the top three most competitive energy markets in the EU and G7 in each year was met in 2004;
	(17)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to bring the UK levels of consumer empowerment up to the level of the best by 2006 will be met;
	(18)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to improve the exploitation of the UK science base;
	(19)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to improve the overall innovation performance of the UK economy;
	(20)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to bring the UK levels of competition up to the level of the best by 2006 will be met;
	(21)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to place empowered consumers at the heart of an effective competition regime;
	(22)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to improve the environment;
	(23)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to improve the sustainable use of natural resources;
	(24)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to increase the number of people considering going into business;
	(25)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to increase enterprise in disadvantaged communities;
	(26)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to improve the overall productivity of small firms;
	(27)  what recent progress has been made towards achieving the Public Service Agreement target to reduce the persistent gap in growth rates between the English regions over the long-term;
	(28)  what recent progress has been made towards achieving the Public Service Agreement target to make sustainable improvements in the economic performance of all English regions by 2008;
	(29)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to build an enterprise society in which small firms thrive;
	(30)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010 will be met;
	(31)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to increase the use of energy saving technologies;
	(32)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to (a) secure agreement to a significant reduction in trade barriers and (b) improve trading opportunities for the UK and developing countries by 2005 will be met;
	(33)  what recent progress has been made towards achieving the Public Service Agreement target of moving towards a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions below 1990 levels by 2010;
	(34)  what recent progress has been made towards achieving the Public Service Agreement target to create an extensive and competitive broadband market;
	(35)  whether the Public Service Agreement target to achieve value for money improvements of 2.5 per cent. a year across her Department was met in 2004;
	(36)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to maintain the reliability of energy supplies;
	(37)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to promote fair, competitive markets;
	(38)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to maintain the UK as the prime location in the EU for foreign direct investment;
	(39)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to eliminate fuel poverty in vulnerable households in England by 2010 will be met;
	(40)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to achieve value for money improvements of 2.5 per cent. a year across her Department will be met in 2005;
	(41)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to increase the employment rate by 2006 will be met;
	(42)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to bring about measurable improvements in gender equality by 2006 will be met;
	(43)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to deliver a measurable improvement in the business performance of UK Trade and Investment's international trade customers by 2008;
	(44)  what recent assessment she has made of whether the Public Service Agreement target to reduce significantly the difference between the overall employment rate and the employment rate of ethnic minorities by 2006 will be met;
	(45)  what recent progress has been made towards the Public Service Agreement target to maintain a flexible labour market.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department reports on progress towards its Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets in its Departmental Reports and Autumn Performance Reports. The most recent of these assessments is contained in the Autumn Performance Report 2004 (Cm 6422 www.dti.gov.uk/pdfs/DTI Autumn Performance Report 2004.pdf) which was laid before Parliament on 7 December 2004. This report gives the most recent assessment of progress towards all of the Department's PSA targets from the 2002 and earlier Spending Review.
	The Department's first assessment of progress towards its PSA targets from the 2004 Spending Review will be in the Autumn Performance Report 2005.

Departmental Policies

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Coventry, South constituency, the effects on Coventry, South of changes to his Department's policy since 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Coventry, South constituency benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road casualties in Great Britain fell from 32 7,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the numbers of children aged under 16 years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1 billion in 1996–67 to 40.9 billion in 2003–04, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality emissions of the UK's two main pollutants—nitrous oxides and particles—fell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.
	The funding provided directly to West Midlands metropolitan authorities since 1997 is shown in the following table 1 . It has been for West Midlands metropolitan authorities to determine how that allocation is spent, in line with its local transport plan and its priorities.
	1 Funding allocations for 1997–98 not included since they cover a period proceeding May 1997 and announcements concerning the 1997–98 allocation were made in 1996.
	
		
			£ million 
			 West Midlands metropolitan authorities nature of funding 1998–99 1999 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Capital maintenance 7.557 11.516 13.331 22.361 26.246 21.942 24.723 
			 Integrated block 19.857 21.491 22.300 46.600 49.380 51.000 55.012 
			 Major schemes 21.987 10.700 6.902 4.805 13.875 13.325 24.4 
			 Targeted bus grants(22) 0.090 0.090 0.500 0.960 1.260 0.850 0.140 
			 Total 49.491 43.797 43.033 74.726 90.761 87.117 104.275 
		
	
	(22) Includes Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and Rural Bus Challenge funding.
	In addition, the Coventry, South constituency is benefiting from major improvements to strategic infrastructure. For example in December 2004 the Government fully approved the Quality Coventry Bus Network and has agreed to contribute £28 million to the costs of the scheme, which will make a real difference to current bus users as well as encouraging greater bus use in the city.
	The Highways Agency has a programme of work that includes the M40 junction 15 (Longbridge Roundabout) scheme. This work is due to commence in 2006–07. The objective of this scheme is to relieve congestion in the Coventry, South constituency area.
	The Coventry, South constituency has benefited from the £7 billion investment in the West Coast Railway Line. Also £4.2 million has been spent on railway related park and ride schemes.
	Finally, the Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at http://neighbourhood. statistics.gov.uk./. In addition, the Department for Transport's website also contains data on transport trends over the past 20 years at http://www.dft.gov.uk

Departmental Policies

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Croydon, Central, the effects of the Department's policies and actions on Croydon, Central constituency since 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Croydon, Central constituency will have benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road casualties in Great Britain fell from 327,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the numbers of children aged under 16 years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1 billion in 1996–97 to 40.9 billion in 2003–04, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality, emissions of the UK's two main pollutants—nitrous oxides and particles—fell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.
	Responsibility for a number of transport functions has been devolved to the Greater London Assembly and Transport for London. For example, the Mayor sets a transport strategy and provides capital funding to London boroughs to implement parts of it. Since 1997, the Croydon, Central constituency has benefited from the investment being made in new rail rolling stock, the completion of the Croydon Tramlink and will benefit from the Coulsdon Relief Road, now under construction.
	Finally, the Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at http:// neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk./. In addition, the Department for Transport's website also contains data on transport trends over the past 20 years at http://www.dft.gov.uk.

Highway Schemes

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which highway schemes provisionally approved by his Department in the Local Transport Capital Settlements announced in (a) December 2000, (b) December 2001, (c) December 2002 and (d) December 2003 have received final approval; and what capital allocation has been provided in respect of each.

Charlotte Atkins: The following table sets out major highway schemes provisionally approved between December 2000 and December 2003. These scheme have now had final approval The table also includes capital allocation has been provided in respect of each.
	
		
			 LTP highway scheme Allocation (£ million) 
		
		
			 Barnsley Coalfields Link Road Phases 2 and 3 6.206 
			 Sheffield Northern Inner Relief Road Stages 2 and 3 55.989 
			 East Leeds Link 9.500 
			 Leeds Inner Relief Road Stage 7 50.358 
			 South Bradford Integrated Transport Scheme 11.364 
			 Carlisle Northern Development Route (23)78.812 
			 A57 Cadishead Way (Brinell Drive to City Boundary) 19.905 
			 Salford Manchester Inner Relief Road (Regent Road to Gore Street) 34.314 
			 Scotswood Road 13.200 
			 Sunderland Southern Radial Route 21.348 
			 A689 Sedgefield to Wynyard Improvement 9.349 
			 A1687 Chilton Bypass 8.364 
			 Nar Ouse Regeneration Route 7.752 
			 South Lowestoft Relief Road 29.621 
			 West Thurrock Regeneration Ring Road 5.07 
			 A13/A127-A1159 Corridors 14.5 
			 A228 Main Road to Ropers Lane Phase 1 11.860 
			 Northfield Relief Road 15.282 
			 Cradley Heath Bypass 6.769 
			 Barford Bypass 9.050 
			 Biddulph Inner Bypass 8.851 
			 Rugeley Eastern Bypass Stage 2 17.810 
			 Barnstaple Western Bypass 37.954 
			 Semington to Melksham 10.82 
			 Plymouth Northern Corridor 11.250 
			 Partney Bypass 6.305 
			 Rearsby Bypass 7.003 
			 Mansfield and Ashfield Regeneration Route 28.083 
		
	
	(23) PFI

London Underground

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much central Government funding was provided to London Underground in each financial year between 1997–98 and 2004–05 (a) at current prices and (b) at constant prices, separately identifying amounts provided for the Jubilee Line Extension.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 7 March 2005
	The following tables set out:
	(a) For the period up to July 2003, the amounts London Underground (LU) received from the London Regional Transport (LRT) grant. (Up to July 2000, when Transport for London was established, a single grant was paid to LRT to support LU, buses, river services, Croydon Tramlink, etc, and the Department's estimates do not record a separate element for LU. Between July 2000 and July 2003, the grant provided to LRT was only for LU.)
	(b) For the period since July 2003, the element of GLA transport grant the Government has identified as being for London Underground. (The GLA transport grant is paid as a single block, and it is for the Mayor to determine LU's budget).
	
		
			£ million (cash) 
			  London Regional Transport London Underground(24) Of which Jubilee Line extension construction 
		
		
			 1997–98 630 544 506 
			 1998–99 411 313 267 
			 1999–2000 816 640 478 
			 2000–01 315 267 — 
			 2001–02(25) 484 460 — 
			 2002–03 767 767 — 
			 2003–04(26) 867 1,218 — 
			 2004–05(27) — 1,070 — 
		
	
	1 Source: London Underground accounts for 1997–98 to 2003–04.
	2 In 2001–02, LRT spent £24 million on re-structuring and re-organising LT Group.
	3 In 2003–04, the grant for LU was paid to LRT until July 2003 with the balance of £346 million being paid as part of the GLA Transport Grant from August 2003.
	4 The element of the GLA transport grant identified by Government for London Underground.
	
		
			£ million(24) 
			  London Regional Transport London Underground Of which Jubilee Line extension construction 
		
		
			 1997–98 730.9 631.1 587.0 
			 1998–99 463.4 352.9 301.0 
			 1999–2000 900.7 706.4 527.6 
			 2000–01 343.5 291.2 — 
			 2001–02 514.9 489.4 — 
			 2002–03 789.1 789.1 — 
			 2003–04 867 1,218 — 
			 2004–05 — 1,048.0 — 
		
	
	(24) Constant 2003–04 prices—HMT GDP Deflator

Motorcycling Strategy

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation the Government conducted with organisations or interests other than motorcycle users and manufacturers prior to publishing its recent motor cycling strategy; and what responses it received.

David Jamieson: When developing the National Motorcycling Strategy, the Government took account of the views of the Advisory Group on Motorcycling. This Group represented motorcycling interests, motoring organisations, local government and the police.
	The Strategy is a framework for motorcycling to become fully recognised as a mode of transport. It embraces a whole range of actions both for government and non-government organisations to pursue in order for this "mainstreaming" of motorcycling to be successfully achieved. Consultation with both motorcycling interests and other affected parties will take place, where necessary, as these specific actions are taken forwards.

School Buses

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to provide capital funding to local authorities for school bus schemes using accessible low floor buses fitted with satellite tracking equipment to provide services to primary schools.

Charlotte Atkins: We know that well-designed school bus schemes have the potential to reduce car dependency for journeys to school and the traffic congestion that results from this.
	The Department does, from time-to-time, receive applications from local authorities for the funding of school buses as a "major schemes" under the Local Transport Plan process. Each of these is considered on its merits, taking account of value for money, regional priorities and affordability. It is for the authorities to determine the precise nature of the bid based on local needs, but the Department would insist that for future schemes vehicles must be DDA compliant.

Snow Ploughs

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many snow ploughs and other snow-moving vehicles are operated by each local authority in England.

Charlotte Atkins: holding answer 8 March 2005
	This information is not collated centrally by the Department for Transport.
	The Department strongly recommends that local authorities provide a winter service, including snow ploughing, in accordance with the Code of Practice for Maintenance Management "Delivering Best Value in Highway Maintenance" published in 2001 by the Institution of Highways and Transportation. This recommends that local highway authorities consult road users on a winter operational plan on an annual basis, and publish and implement it. This plan will inform deliberations on the numbers of specialised winter maintenance vehicles required.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to reduce congestion on the inter-urban trunk road network below 2000 levels will be met by 2010;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to reduce congestion in large urban areas in England below 2000 levels will be met by 2010.

David Jamieson: The Commission for Integrated Transport and the Select Committee on Transport, Local Government and the Regions criticised the congestion PSA targets set in 2000 on the grounds that they did not relate to specific roads and were not meaningful to road users, since they did not capture important aspects of road users experience such as journey time reliability. In the light of these concerns the Government announced in the White Paper "The Future of Transport" (July 2004) that it was replacing the previous targets with new ones, to be published in July 2005. In the "Transport 10-Year Plan 2000: Delivering better transport—progress report" (December 2002) the Government said that congestion forecasts were higher than previously, largely due to higher economic growth. The report went on to say that although the measures set out in the 10-Year Plan will deliver significant reductions in projected levels of congestion, these may not be sufficient to secure a return to 2000 levels.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to secure improvements in rail punctuality will be met by 2010.

Tony McNulty: An assessment of progress for all the Department's current public service agreement targets was published in December 2004 in our "Autumn Performance Report"—copies of which were placed in the House of Commons Library.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to increase rail use in Great Britain by 50 per cent. from 2000 levels will be met by 2010.

Tony McNulty: An assessment of progress for all the Department's current public service agreement targets was published in December 2004 in our "Annual Performance Report"—copies of which were placed in the House of Commons Library.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made towards achieving the public service agreement target to improve air quality by meeting the National Air Quality strategy objectives for carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, particles, sulphur dioxide, benzene and 1,3-butadiene.

David Jamieson: Preliminary results show that, last year, we met the four Air Quality Strategy objectives in the public service agreement target for carbon monoxide, benzene, 1,3-butadiene and lead. Objectives for particles and sulphur dioxide, due to be met last year, have not yet been achieved in every part of the country.
	Modelling shows that more work will be needed if we are to meet future objectives for nitrogen dioxide and particles in all parts of the country. We are reviewing the Air Quality Strategy and the Climate Change Programme to see what more can be done to make faster progress. At the same time, we are taking forward initiatives announced in the Future of Transport White Paper. These include working with our European partners to develop tighter standards for both vehicles and fuels, and ensuring that local authorities' Air Quality Action Plans are integrated into their Local Transport Plans in areas where transport has a significant impact on local air quality.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010 will be met.

David Jamieson: Recent assessments are that the Government will meet its target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. on base year levels by 2010. Indeed, it expects to do considerably better. The UK is currently on track to achieve a 21 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2010, thereby achieving more the target by 17 MtC.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made towards achieving the public service agreement target of moving towards a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions below 1990 levels by 2010.

David Jamieson: Recent progress on policies and other programmes to reduce emissions from carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from the transport sector and other sectors was published in "Review of the UK Climate Change Programme: consultation paper" on 8 December 2004.
	Examples of measures which have led to reductions in carbon emissions from the transport sector include the Government's support for low carbon vehicles and fuels through fiscal and other incentives and support for research, development and demonstration programmes such as the New Vehicle Technology Fund. Policy measures in the transport sector alone are forecast to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by some 4.4 million tonnes of carbon a year by 2010.
	The Government expect that, as a result of their policies, carbon dioxide emissions will fall. In 2003, they are estimated to have been about 7 per cent. below 1990 levels. By 2010, they are forecast to be 14 per cent. below 1990 levels based on current projections. This figure includes only the estimated emission reductions gained from measures that are firm and funded. It does not include, for example, measures that may happen but are not yet finalised, such as a possible further round of voluntary agreements on average new car fuel efficiency between the European Commission and the automotive industry after the current agreements expire in 2008.

Child Poverty

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children in each London borough have been reported to be living in poverty in each year since 1995.

Chris Pond: Our first step towards eradicating child poverty as set out in our current Public Service Agreement target is to reduce the number of children in low-income households by a quarter by 2004–05. This is measured using the proportion of children in relative low income households. Specific information regarding low income for the United Kingdom is available in "Households Below Average Income 1994–95 to 2002–03". Data is not available below the regional level and is only available as proportions at the regional level. It should be noted that the reporting of year-on-year changes in the regional low-income rates are not reliable. 'Measuring child poverty', published in December 2003, outlines the Government's measure of UK child poverty for the long term. The measure will consist of three tiers; absolute low income, relative low income and material deprivation and low income combined. The Government will set a target as part of the 2006 SR06 Spending Review to halve by 2010–11 the numbers of children suffering a combination of material deprivation and relative low income. Data will not be available below the regional level.
	"Households below average income 1997–98 to 2002–03" and "Measuring Child Poverty" are available in the Library.

Child Support Agency

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what provision is available to support a claimant whilst a re-evaluation of Child Support Agency payments is taking place.

Chris Pond: Within the Child Support legislation, there is no provision available to a claimant while a re-evaluation of Child Support payments is being made.
	Non resident parents are responsible for continuing regular payments while their liability is being re-calculated. If the non resident parent does not pay whilst their liability is being re-calculated, any moneys not paid will be added to the arrears balance.

Job Centres

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost has been of refurbishing jobcentres at (a) Blandford, (b) Bridport, (c) Christchurch, (d) Poole and (e) Wareham in the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 9 March 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the cost of refurbishing the Jobcentres in Blandford, Bridport, Christchurch, Poole and Wareham in the last three years. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	During this time, Blandford, Bridport, Christchurch and Wareham were refurbished to meet the corporate Jobcentre Plus vision. As Poole was relocated to a new site, new build costs were incurred.
	Information on costs incurred is in the table.
	
		
			  £ 
			 Jobcentre plus office Cost 
		
		
			 Blandford 287,000 
			 Bridport 300,000 
			 Christchurch 320,000 
			 Poole 343,000 
			 Wareham 242,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information is for the period October 2002 to July 2004 when costs were incurred.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus South West Regional Office
	I hope this information is helpful.

Maternity Provision

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Government has to increase the rate of (a) statutory maternity pay and (b) maternity allowance.

Chris Pond: The standard rate of Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance will be increased from £102.80 to £106 a week from April 2005 as part of the annual uprating process.
	The Government's aim is to give all children the best start in life and to give parents more choice about how to balance their work and family life. As part of this the Government has undertaken to extend the payment period of Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance from 26 weeks to 39 weeks from April 2007.
	The Government recognises that whether parents can afford to take time off is crucial to their decisions about how much leave from work they can take. Therefore we are asking in our consultation document "Work and Families, Choice and Flexibility", issued by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 28 February, what the guiding principles should be for setting the level of flat rate payments.

Provisional IRA

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his most recent estimate is of the scale of intellectual property crime in the Province by the Provisional IRA concerning (a) pirate DVDs, CDs and software, (b) counterfeit branded goods, (c) washing powder, toiletries, perfumes and clothing and (d) veterinary drugs and medicines.

Ian Pearson: The Organised Crime Task Force has carried out detailed analysis of the scale of paramilitary involvement in counterfeiting and piracy and its assessment is that paramilitary gangs carry out 80 per cent. of organised intellectual property crime in Northern Ireland, with loyalist and republican gangs equally heavily involved. The Independent Monitoring Commission's report of 4 November 2004 also highlights paramilitary involvement in this form of criminality.
	In 2004 the Police Service of Northern Ireland seized over £6 million of counterfeit goods across Northern Ireland I pay tribute to the PSNI for their on-going efforts to combat organised criminals who seek to line their pockets from the sale of illicit goods. In addition, since 2003 joint operations between the PSNI and An Garda S-ochána have resulted in seizures worth €12 million.

Africa (Departmental Groups)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding has been allocated to support his Department's Africa research team in each of the last 10 years; and how many members of staff were employed in it in each year.

Jack Straw: Records are only available for the last nine financial years including the current year. Allocations for and numbers of staff in the Africa Research Group for these periods were as follows:
	
		
			  Number of staff Total running costs (£) 
		
		
			 1996–97 8 24,409.88 
			 1997–98 8 19,576.77 
			 1998–99 8 31,528.98 
			 1999–2000 8 35,751.57 
			 2000–01 9 79,197.63 
			 2001–02 9 58,640.25 
			 2002–03 9 65,556.48 
			 2003–04 9 52,057.32 
			 2004–05 9 21,604.87 
		
	
	Financial information for the current year is incomplete at this stage.
	Running costs exclude salaries and related costs but include official travel, office equipment and stationery, library expenditure, IT maintenance and official entertainment. Travel costs for research visits were the largest element in each year. The increase from 2000–01 reflected the arrival of additional analytical staff to cover French speaking West Africa (in the context of Franco-British co-operation on Africa). Additional funding was allocated in 2000 for IT upgrades and a major look ahead seminar "Africa 2020".

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government abroad have had with (i) members and (ii) representatives of the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and (A) Angola, (B) Zambia, (C) Tanzania, (D) Burundi, (E) Uganda, (F) Sudan, (G) Central African Republic and (H) the People's Republic of the Congo regarding the (1) possibility, (2) viability and (3) desirability of the implementation of Joint Border Verification Mechanisms between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and each of the above mentioned countries along the model of the Joint Border Verification Mechanism between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda for the amelioration and stabilisation of the (x) security and (y) humanitarian situation of the border regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: A Joint Verification Mechanism (JVM) is already in operation between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. We have discussed with the DRC government the possible extension of the JVM to include Burundi. We supported international efforts which brought Burundi into the Tripartite Agreement on Regional Security in the Great Lakes.
	We have not discussed the further extension of the JVM but we support the Great Lakes Conference process. At its summit in Dar Es Salaam in November 2004 the heads of state of Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia made a declaration containing guarantees on security and good neighbourliness. Senior UK officials were involved at the summit, and the Department for International Development has contributed over £250,000 to the costs of the Conference so far.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent attacks by Kurdistan Democratic Party militiamen against ChaldoAssyrians in northern Iraq.

Chris Mullin: We are aware of allegations of attacks by members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party against ChaldoAssyrians in northern Iraq. Our Consul General in Kirkuk raised the issue with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) last week. All denied that such acts have taken place. The KRG currently have a number of resettlement projects in Iraqi Kurdistan, which includes bringing Christians from places like Baghdad and Basra to settle in the safer areas of Iraqi Kurdistan.

Northern Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish administration in Northern Cyprus on the number of people from Turkey moving to live in Northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions recently, either with Turkey or representatives of the Turkish Cypriot Community, about the number of people moving from Turkey to north Cyprus. However our senior officials maintain an open dialogue with the leadership of the Turkish Cypriots on all aspects of the situation in Cyprus.
	The Government maintain their long-standing position of non-recognition of the self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus".

Student Visas

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of changes in the numbers of student visa applications from China in recent years.

Chris Mullin: The information requested is in the table.
	
		
			  As at 1 April to 31 March: 
			 Student visa applications received 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Guangzhou 4,829 6,554 6,193 
			 Beijing 19,581 22,161 22,828 
			 Shanghai 4,928 5,762 6,487 
			 Total 29,338 34,477 35,508 
		
	
	The table shows the number of visa applications received from students at our visa issuing posts in China over the three most recent years has increased. Statistics for the period April 2004 to March 2005 are not yet available. When they are, they can be found, along with further entry clearance statistics, on the UKvisas website at www.ukvisas.gov.uk—"Entry Clearance: Facts and Figures".

Tyrannies

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries classified as tyrannies by his Department; what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) other members of the UK Government have had with (i) members and (ii) representatives of the US Administration with regard to a common definition of tyranny; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: It is not our practice to classify countries as tyrannies. There are, however, countries where poor adherence to international human rights standards, and a lack of commitment to democracy, good governance and the rule of law, cause us particular concern. The Government works to improve the human rights performance of such countries both bilaterally with the countries concerned; in partnership with others, such as the US; and multilaterally, through the EU, UN and other organisations. A full record of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) work in this area is published in our annual report on human rights, copies of which are placed in the Library of the House, and which is also available on the FCO website: www.fco.gov.uk.

United States

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent visit of President Bush to the EU headquarters in Brussels.

Chris Mullin: The timing of President Bush's visit to Europe, so early in his second term, shows the importance he attaches to the transatlantic relationship. As President Bush highlighted in his speech on 22 February,
	"America and Europe face a moment of consequence and opportunity".
	Leaders on both sides recognise the continued importance of the EU and US continuing to work in partnership on the challenges that face us in the 21st century.

Community Pharmaceutical Services

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the new contract for NHS community pharmaceutical services on primary care trusts;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the new contract for NHS community pharmaceutical services on general practitioners;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the new contract for NHS community pharmaceutical services on rural general practitioner surgeries;
	(4)  what recent progress has been made regarding control of entry regulations for primary care trusts;
	(5)  what recent progress has been made regarding the publication of regulations for primary care trusts involved with the new contract for NHS community pharmaceutical services; and if he will make a statement on the regulatory frameworks for the new NHS contract for community pharmaceutical services.

Rosie Winterton: The new contractual framework for community pharmacy gives primary care trusts (PCTs) the opportunity to work with local pharmacists to develop a range of high quality community pharmacy services. This will make them an integral part of local primary care provision. PCTs should be able to fully exploit the opportunities in order to maximise the benefits to patients.
	The framework offers considerable benefits for general practitioners (GPs) and the opportunity to work closer with community pharmacists whether in rural or non-rural areas. This includes support for self-care, the management of common ailments and helping patients get the best from their medicines. The introduction of repeat dispensing in every pharmacy will mean that patients will be able to get a prescription from their GP to be dispensed in instalments by their pharmacy for up to a year without patients having to make repeat visits to the surgery for their prescriptions. This will help reduce GP workloads, offer opportunities for pharmacists to review patient medication and minimise waste by not dispensing medicines that patients no longer require. Repeat dispensing is especially of benefit to people with long-term conditions.
	We have recently finished consulting representative organisations on the regulatory changes needed to bring in the new framework and the reforms to the control of entry system. We will shortly lay these before Parliament together with the final regulatory impact assessment. We will also publish directions to PCTs, concerning how they are to implement some of the aspects of the new framework and a determination regarding the remuneration to be paid to national health service community pharmacy contractors.
	The regulations will ensure the new framework and the balanced package of control of entry reform measures broaden the range and quality of services for patients, encouraging innovation and excellence in service provision.

Counter Fraud and Security Management Service

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training the staff of the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service who are directly involved in investigation receive; and what plans he has to change their training.

Rosie Winterton: The national health service counter fraud and security management service (CFSMS) provides training for all staff who counter fraud and corruption within the NHS.
	It is mandatory for all NHS counter fraud specialists to successfully complete a counter fraud foundation level course. This high quality professional training has been accredited by the universities of Portsmouth, East London and Wolverhampton and is worth 40 higher education credits.
	Successful completion of the foundation level leads to the nationally recognised professional qualification of accredited counter fraud specialist (ACFS). The NHS is one of a number of organisations where staff are trained to this standard. At the end of 2004, there were 8,274 qualified ACFSs from hundreds of organisations in both the public and private sectors including six Government Departments, such as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Government agencies such as the Audit Commission, several police forces, banks, investment companies and over 300 local authorities.
	Further training includes an intermediate level course, which focuses on prevention and deterrence of fraud. Additionally, the CFSMS provides refresher training on issues such as interviewing skills and regularly updates training where there are changes in law or procedures that have an impact on work to counter fraud.
	Throughout the year, the CFSMS ensures ongoing support and training for staff through quarterly forums and an annual conference. There is also assistance through a training centre helpline and a regional network.
	Because the training attracts higher education credits, it can lead on to further academic study and the CFSMS supports staff who want to continue to develop and work towards a BSc. (Hons) in counter fraud and criminal justice studies.
	At present there are no plans to change the training. It is regularly reviewed to ensure that it is relevant and meets the requirements of staff.

Counter Fraud and Security Management Service

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget of the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service and its predecessor the NHS Counter Fraud Service has been in each year since September 1998.

Rosie Winterton: The budgetary allocation for national health service counter fraud service is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Budgetary allocation resource from the Department(33) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 4.15 
			 2000–01 4.25 
			 2001–02 5.44 
			 2002–03 6.10 
		
	
	(33) This was increased in 2003–04 to £14.71 million when responsibility was assumed for the security management service.

Counter Fraud and Security Management Service

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether the proposals to strengthen the powers of the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service announced by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 21 October 2004 will require primary legislation; and when he expects to publish the outcome of the consultation process on the proposals;
	(2)  what powers the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service has to access personal information; and what powers he expects the service will have following the proposed changes announced by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 21 October 2004.

Rosie Winterton: Responses to the consultation document Access to Relevant Documents, Records and Data to Counter Fraud are currently being analysed. In accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Consultations a summary of responses will be published within three months of the consultation closing date of 21 January 2005. At this stage, it is too early to say what shape any future measures may take but they will be informed by the outcome of the consultation exercise.
	The NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS) do not currently have any specific powers to require access to personal information. Under the NHS Act 1977 the Secretary of State for Health has directed national health service bodies to co-operate with the CFSMS to enable it to efficiently and effectively carry out its counter fraud functions. This includes the supply of information to the CFSMS unless the supply of such information is prohibited by law.

Digital Hearing Aids

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the Government's policy is on supplying digital hearing aids to those who have been diagnosed to be in need of them;
	(2)  what the Government's timetable is for providing digital hearing aids to those diagnosed to be in need of them.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department has invested £125 million into the modernising hearing aid services (MHAS) project since it started in September 2000. MHAS has been retaining audiologists and modernising national health service services in a phased way to enable them to offer digital hearing aids to people who would benefit from them.
	95 per cent., of all NHS audiology departments in England are fitting digital hearing aids .routinely to those people they have diagnosed as suitable and the few remaining .departments will be offering the service by the end of March 2005.
	We have recently announced new waiting time targets for NHS diagnostic services so that, by 2008, nobody will have to wait longer than 18 weeks from referral to receiving their digital hearing aid if that is what they require.

MRI Scans

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 7 February 2005, Official Report, columns 1337W, on MRI scans, what aspects of the contract are monitored; how the information is collected; and if he will publish (a) the data collected to date and (b) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the contract to date.

John Hutton: holding answer 23 February 2005
	The contract is monitored using key performance indicators (KPI) and management information regarding patient referrals by the national health service. KPI data is submitted monthly under the terms of the contract and is reviewed by the Department. The KPI data contains information on numbers of scans delivered, timeliness, quality and customer satisfaction.
	Alliance Medical provide a full report of activity and rejections (including reasons for this) to the referring bodies and NHS leads in the local health economy. This information is commercially sensitive and may include information on patients, which is confidential.
	The contract has delivered scans to in excess of 25,000 patients to date. Evidence suggests that this programme has already proved effective in driving down waiting times.

MRSA

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of MRSA there have been at Conquest hospital in Hastings, East Sussex, in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 8 March 2005
	The number of reports of methicillin resistant "Staphylococcus aureus" (MRSA) bacteraemia is not available centrally by individual hospital. All acute national health service trusts are required to report MRSA bloodstream infections as part of the mandatory surveillance system introduced in April 2001.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to increase the number of older people being supported to live in their own homes by 1 per cent. annually in 2007 and 2008 will be met;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to increase the number of older people supported intensively to live at home to 34 per cent. of the total being supported by social services at home or residential by 2008 will be met;
	(3)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to increase the number of older people supported intensively to live at home to 30 per cent. of the total being supported by social services at home or in residential accommodation will be met by March 2006.

Stephen Ladyman: The public service agreement (PSA) target to increase, by March 2006, the number of those supported intensively to live at home to 30 per cent. of all those being supported by social services at home or in residential care, rose from 29 per cent. to 30 per cent. in 2003–04; this means the target was met two years ahead of the target date. This PSA target was changed to 34 per cent. by March 2008, following the 2004 spending review. Information for 2004–05 showing progress towards this target will be available in autumn 2005. The final position on this target will be assessed in the autumn of 2008, when the data for 2007–08 is available.
	Data is not yet available to assess progress against the PSA target to increase the number of older people being supported to live in their own homes by 1 per cent. annually in 2007 and 2008. The baseline for the target will be calculated for the year 2005–06 by the end of 2006, when the data is published. We will be able to measure the final position at the end of 2008.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to reduce the mortality rate from suicide and undetermined injury by at least 20 per cent. by 2010 will be met.

Rosie Winterton: The national suicide prevention strategy for England annual report on progress 2004, published on 21 January 2005, stated that the overall death rate from suicide in the most recent period (2001–03) has fallen to 8.6 deaths per 100,000 population. This marks a reduction of 6 per cent. from the baseline rate in 1995–97 of 9.2 deaths per 100,000. The rate has been steadily falling for the past five years and if this trend were to continue, the target would be met. The strategy is a coordinated set of activities, which will take place over several years and is subject to regular annual review and evaluation. A copy of the annual report has been placed in the Library.